7 Best Security Camera Apps for Android in 2019

One cannot stress the utility of having a security camera at their disposal. While security cameras have been around for quite some time, there weren’t enough tools to display the content recorded by these cameras. Times have changed, however, and today we can use a bunch of apps to view the recordings in real time or after.

Given the versatility of the Android platform, there are quite a bit of apps out there that help us use our smartphones as the viewfinder for security cameras. Some dedicated camera systems like Nest have their own apps which can alleviate the rigorous process of finding an app that works.

However, many of the apps available on the Play Store work with any camera system, making them useful with hundreds and thousands of security camera hardware. We’re going to talk about seven of the best security camera apps available for Android in 2019.

Named after Batman’s butler, Alfred helps you utilize your old unused smartphones and turn them into a security camera. In any household, there are going to be unused smartphones and tablets which have been replaced by newer and better devices.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to add an extra layer of security to your home or office, using one of these devices makes sense. And Alfred helps you a great deal in setting this up. While it’s possible with a bunch of other apps as well, the ease at which this app helps you set up your phone or tablet as a camera is unparalleled.

This app brings remote access, allowing you to view footage regardless of where you are. The app also offers the ability to be used as a 360 degree camera, utilizing both the front and back cameras for a wider periphery. There’s a zoom feature available as well, ensuring that you catch every tiny detail.

One key benefit to this particular phone camera setup is that you can change its location as many times as you want with little to no effort. There’s free cloud storage available as well (with more storage available via in-app purchases), allowing you to store recorded content.

This particular app is designed to work with Hikvision branded cameras and other security equipment, so its use-case is dependent on the kind of hardware you have. Assuming you do have Rikvision hardware at your home or office, this app is everything you need to have as far as surveillance and monitoring is concerned.

When there’s an alarm triggered on your security system, the app will instantly notify you to take necessary action. For the added layer of security on your smartphone, the app lets you login using your fingerprint. Although Hikvision offers enterprise cloud storage services, the app can’t help you configure or modify these settings.

This is one Nest app for almost every hardware it offers. Through the app, you can navigate to Nest’s Thermostat settings, as well as Protect and Guard features. This app makes a great deal of sense if you’re invested in the Nest ecosystem, be it for thermostat or home security.

It can also alert you of motion at any of your designated areas. This is a comprehensive app for any Nest hardware available on the market. Given the versatility of Nest Cameras, they can be placed practically anywhere around your property. As for monitoring, the tablet app can give you a bigger vision thanks to the bigger display real estate. You can have as many cameras setup with this app as you want, with the process barely taking a few minutes.

WardenCam is the perfect choice for an old smartphone that you might have laying around. This app turns your spare smartphone or tablets into home security system that you can monitor while out and about. You’ll be able to keep an eye on everyday activity — like package arrivals, monitor your baby, see what the kids are up to, or monitor if your dog is destroying your home while away!

It comes with free Cloud storage, motion detection and alerts, and it works on WiFi, 3G, 4G, and LTE.

Next up, we have Security Camera CZ. Similar to WardenCam, you can turn any old smartphone or tablet into a home security camera. Easily monitor the happenings at your home without investing a few hundred dollars into an actual home security system. With motion detection and alerts, Security Camera CZ will work just like a Nest Cam and other surveillance cameras.

This one comes with a two-way talk back features (think a walkie talkie). There’s also a siren option, which you can turn on if you were to ever see an intruder in your home or on your property. Or, you can just use this for monitoring the dogs while gone, or the baby while in the other room!

Much like Alfred, this app allows you to repurpose your old smartphone or tablet into a home security camera. With advanced face detection features, the app can send you a notification (with animated GIFs) when it recognizes someone from the video. This uses advanced deep learning and artificial intelligence technologies, allowing the app to accurately detect the person in the video. You can stream video from the camera from your primary smartphone using cellular data or Wi-Fi.

The app also cleverly utilizes the microphone on both devices, offering hassle free two-way communication. One safety feature I really like is the app’s ability to run in background mode and auto-launch on startup. The app also comes with cloud support, so you can store as many recordings on the cloud as you want. This is a free download on the Google Play Store with ads and in-app purchases.

This is yet another similar app to the one we talked above, allowing you to utilize your old smartphone/tablet as a full-time surveillance camera. It also comes with two way audio to communicate through the host device. There’s a motion detection feature here that will trigger an alarm on the camera when an intruder passes through the camera, while the technology on board ensures the reduction of false alarms (pets).

Verdict

Here we’ve shown you the best home security apps on Google Play. You can use any one of these to tie in with a surveillance or security camera, and then monitor your home from wherever you are in the world. These are the perfect options for making sure your home or office stays secure while you’re out on vacation or on a work trip.

Do you have a favorite home security camera app? Let us know in the comments below.